— Bochy planned to start Posey at first today, but then a couple things happened:

1. Posey caught a perfect game. “I decided to give him a day. Emotionally he probably was drained. Matt Cain was not shaking him off at all.”

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2. Brandon Belt hit a home run yesterday that got lost in everything else, but probably was Belt’s best swing of the year. “I was kind of excited about that at first, but towards the end of the game I couldn’t care less.” Belt, of course, caught the final out. He handed the ball to Cain last night, but not before trying to jokingly negotiate for a Corvette.

— Aubrey Huff injured his knee last night when he did this. (Hat tip to Grant). Huff is having an MRI right now and Bochy said it’s possible he is headed to the disabled list. Huff was scheduled to be the DH a lot in the next week.

— The Giants have been contacted by David Letterman’s people. Cain likely will read the Top 10 list sometime soon.

So with Huff going on the DL, who’s coming up? I’m thinking its going to be a pitcher, probably Timmy’s replacement.

ClutchUp

Hey BAPAH 🙂 Thanks for posting in the prior thread – the actual text of Blanco’s interview, I see JD reposted that text. If anybody would have been offended 🙁 they would not have had a clue about anything (imo)

Thanks to YOU and of course JD 😉

ClutchUp

55 is going nowhere Leaf…

soupnazi

Huff,

DO I HAVE TO SAY IT???

JD4SF

FYI …
Matt Cain Perfect Game re-airs — 7:30 tonight and June 21

JD4SF

Any here watch the Letterman show? Per twitter:
Letterman’s people have contacted the #SFGiants about getting Cain to read Top 10 List.

JD4SF

Ooops, Alex already included that Letterman info in his blog

SurfCity

Last night, that home run by Downs blows back in and Melky catches it.

Last night was magical

Sam

I remember around 2009 Ted Robinson was filling in the midday on KNBR and said that Cain was an average pitcher and that the run support defense was hogwash. The pitcher is judged on wins. I wonder how he feels after the last three seasons.

ClutchUp

Hey Pavs: When there are multiple threads … on a same/similar topic the SJM/Web team should consider having them auto close down after xxx amount of minutes …. or have your assistants (kidding, you don’t have any assistants) Number the Multi’s #1/2/3/4/5 etc.

Good work Pavs 🙂

JD4SF

After the Bumgarner and Cain incredible games, I suspect Houston is out for blood today. Our guys need to put the euphoria and very late nite aside and play good ball.

GO GIANTS!!!

Stan

The team looks hung over.

Stan

And I would rather see Amy G then a Houston HR anyday!

Sakup

Post from earlier thread with one more comment:

Sitting here in HK and still can’t believe what I saw! I have watched it twice, Thank You MLB.com!!!

Cain = Thank You for the Happy Tears!

Posey = Catcher. Think the posey at first thing can be put to Bed!

Crawford = Can pick it

Blanco = WOW

Lefty

If Huff has to go on the DL, do they bring back Pill? And then does that put us right back into the strict platoon at 1B?

Bdub

Huff soon to DL. That’s step 1.

ClutchUp

• Worth repeating – Kudos to Ronnie Wotus who Romo said HAD JUST positioned Tiburon where he was playing and kudos to Blanco who did not ONLY out run the baseball – the baseball lurched away from Blanco at the last second and Gregor had to readjust and snatch it out of thin air while falling down on the warning track.

• If you find a photo take a quick glance on how HIGH up on his right hand that Blanco was wearing his glove.

• That tip was always expressed to Pagan before the game by Willie Mays himself … wear ones Outfielders Glove high up on your glove hand…towards ones finger tips…

• Willie Mays is a fountain of knowledge…

Anti-Lasorda

Zito implosion …..

cyan

Ouch. Zito 🙁

JD4SF

Lefty, the Belt-Pill platoon at 1B was mostly because nobody had claimed 1B. Belt appears to have found his bat, which presumably gives him the majority of the 1B time since he also has the best D there.

Bapah

He’s Baaaaaaack!

Rusty

Classic Zito. I still expect him to have outings like this every time. Call me cynical.

BKGiant

Oh man. Payback.

SurfCity

Per Blanco’s Blog, the game was carried live on Venezuealan TV for some reason, so a lot of his family down there stayed up late to watch it. (Same time zone as U.S. East Coast)

Anti-Lasorda

Well if Old Zito is back, here’s to hoping we see old Timmy on Saturday….

SurfCity

Note: I don’t doubt the Giants offense can come back in this game.

Having said that, if the Giants lose, you almost have to think that it’s part of sort of karmic payback to the ‘Stros.

JD4SF

Some folks are jumping the gun. DL for Huff is a *possibility* at this point, still pending MRI results.

Sam

Timmy’s the new Zito
Zito’s the new Russ Ortiz

Stan

Zito holding them to a run an inning..just more of that hard earned 126 million.

ClutchUp

Timmeh will have to take Zito’s spot. Look I am guessing we have seen this narrative unfold before….

Game after a game for the ages…. Might have “considered” Playing anyone who did not start in last nights game…

Short turnaround … lots of Suds …. late night team dinner at House of Prime Rib etc etc etc ….

Look for Loux to enter … Burriss … Nate …. The Man in the Moon 🙁

You can’t walk three people in a row at any level (imo)

JD4SF

Still early in the game. Ample time for offense to step up.

Sam

Why is Zito walking the same guys who could not get a hit last night?

Stan

Correction almost two per inning..I just came in.

JD4SF

Twitter:
SF’s 10 runs of support for Cain and 15 hits are the most ever in a perfecto. Cain is the 1st pitcher to ever score a run in a perfect game

SurfCity

Pill is an upgrade as backup first baseman, pinch hitter and spot starter at both first and left field.

With Huff as the only backup, Bochy knew enough to keep Brandon out there – althought the Posey at first thing is still on (today being an exception). Hopefully Bochy does not go back to a platoon – that would be regressive move at this point.

ClutchUp

Win each Series, flush the Stinky Games…

Milkbone Underwear

Pagan 4 Panda 5, yeah, bochy’s a brilliant manager! best in baseball. i guess the rest of the managers in baseball would do something stupid, like put their best hitter, and basically their only power hitter 4th…idiots…

Sam

JD4SF says:
June 14th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Some folks are jumping the gun. DL for Huff is a *possibility* at this point, still pending MRI results.

Who is reviewing these MRI’s results? The same doctors who OK’d DeRosa and Freddy Sanchez?

Stan

A perfect balance really.. A perfect game is then followed by an imperfect game. Zito I’m sure see’s the zen in that.

SurfCity

JD at 1:36 – may be premature, but it’s such a convenient, face-saving thing to happen – for all concerned – that you gotta figure he’s going on the DL

soupnazi

milkbone,

give it a rest…

NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!

ClutchUp

IMO, Whiteside would come back to PacBell before Pill….

2holehitting

JD4SF says:
June 14th, 2012 at 1:35 pm 29..

///Belt appears to have found his bat,///

give hime a month before you claim he has found his bat. 3 hits in 2 games is not finding his bat though it is a good start. consistency has been very elusive for him. July you should have a better impression of his bat and if he found it (meaning it was lost) or it is the same ol same ol 225 bat with a few bombs.

SurfCity

JD at 1:39 (or anyone): What I would like to know is what is the most run support that Matt Cain has ever received in a game. Have to think this is close.

Bapah

I want Huff in the dugout and the clubhouse regardless. The other thing that bothers me is the claim that Belt, Blanco and others took a long time to come around. The only thing that took a long time to come around was the Mgr.’s belief in what we knew at the end of ST.

Livefree

I just hope no one is surprised .. … Zito continues a 9 game streak in which he has been horrible. Look it up …. more walks than strikeouts …. WHIP heading toward 2. The “new Zito” was in fact a 4 game fluke. Clearly the Giants cannot afford two pitchers out five being awful. Would have liked to have seen Zito pulled after walking the bases loaded because that HR was hardly a shock. Bullpen is rested

SurfCity

at 1:41 pm

Wow – Bochy’s already an idiot?

For a disagreement on 4 and 5 in the batting order?

Come on – I criticize Bochy when it’s warranted. But that’s a little over the top, perhaps?

I am so weary of the failed experiment known as the Albatross Barry Zito! Can we trade him SOMEHOW for Wandy Rodriguez?

A couple of calls go against him, his cup tightens, he grooves that batting practice fastball &, wow! Down 5=0. . .

It’s like Chinese Water Torture coupled with bamboo shoots up the fingernails. . .it’s torture watching this failed experiment every five days. Too bad he didn’t collide with Huff last night. Somebody step on his foot again!

SurfCity

Bapah at 1:45 – now that’s an example of a warranted criticism, that doesn’t go into personal insult mode. Thank you

Sakup

Zito got squeezed on the first walk in the 2nd, didn’t get the call because the umpire felt sanchez was to quick to fire it around ( other words show him up). Zito went Mental after that….

SurfCity

2Hole at 53 – I think that’s why it’s important that Belt continue to get consistent AB’s right now – so we can see what we have, come July

Bapah

One other thing.

Timmy will be fine. Timmy’s stuff is still good. Look at his SOs in the last couple games. Plus Timmy’s competitive. He wants a no-no too. Just mark my words.

ClutchUp

Milkbone Underwear says: June 14th, 2012 at 1:41 pm Pagan 4 Panda 5, yeah, bochy’s a brilliant manager! best in baseball. i guess the rest of the managers in baseball would do something stupid, like put their best hitter, and basically their only power hitter 4th…idiots…

For the past week or so since Belt actually made the AB adjustments he has been making solid contact, including some hits and also 2 HR. This is promising.

I don’t expect Belt to suddenly become a reliable hitter – that may take years of MLB experience – but at least he now has better potential to contribute a solid hit when he swings instead of his prior status of being better known for his walks and strikeouts.

ClutchUp

three games in a row

cyan

Belt!!! 🙂

Mr. Sarcastic

I always liked that kid Belt …

JD4SF

BELT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SurfCity

Belt Bus To Fresno has just been put on sale on EBAY

Needs Work. Best Offer. Trades Considered.

🙂

JD4SF

Ya think Belt is placing high value on those AB adjustments he made??? 8)

BKGiant

Boy o Boy is this Belt guy getting interesting!

kris

He just needed to play against lefties. Now if he can just do the same against righties.

Sakup

That a boy Belt! He hangs it you bang it!

SurfCity

2Hole:

Timing is everything – for blog comments, and in life! 🙂

Scott

Dear Bruce,

Please note all three homers have come off lefthanders. Can we please dispense with the platoon baloney?

Zito done now! Well, he was done the moment he first toed the rubber for the black & orange. . .Albatross sighting. . .

That woulda been something; a triple play following a perfect game!

taze

Since Zito seems to be regressing these past few starts, I hope that means Lincecum starts getting closer to the pitcher we used to know.

ClutchUp

TwoHoleHitting: I disagree to a point. Waiting and hoping the other shoe falls or whatever more at bats brings is wasted energy.

BB9 should be in the LU whether the TEAM wins or loses or whether he personally goes 4-6 or 0 for 7. Regular playing time allows a Vet hitter or a Newbie to sometimes set up his later in the game at bats using the early game at bats/failures.

Looking for or reading a pitch or recognizing a pitch out of a pitchers hand becomes increasingly more doable if the mental side of playing regularly helps the player SLOW the game DOWN for himself. The ball looks bigger and the ball appears SLOWER, and thus hitting becomes contagious.

Plus he is a above average=great firstbaseman….

Angry Dan

Bdub,

How does Belt “earn his consistency” if he doesn’t get to play consistently in the first place? If Pill were still here, the chances are really low Belt even gets a chance to hit the home runs yesterday and today.

Sam

Yeah calling Bochy an idiot and stupid is uncalled for. Stick with melonhead and it’s all good 🙂

Bapah

CU, well said.

The Oracle

Man up, all of you “Belt is a bust” posters. Still think so? Or do you now agree that he might possibly have enough of an upside that he ought to be out there every day so he can fully develop? What about all those who said he couldn’t hit lefties? Including you, Bochy. One thing I like about myself is that I take the high road. I’m not the kind of guy to say I TOLD YOU SO!

Never play baseball hung over is my advice…the sun must look like a blazing double star to the Giant outfielders..

ClutchUp

I can’t blame Sanchez for beginning the ritual of throwing the ball around the horn … lots of good catchers or MIF’s “sell the moment” by their own body language.

Umpires are bad but there are reasons that a guy like Zito gets squeezed. Example: Zito, on his bad outings NEVER establishes that HE can make repeatable pitches to the glove, he cannot throw early inning strikes sometimes and the MLB Umpire culture is to then squeeze even an established pitcher. If the glove keeps moving from its original position and then chirping or begging with body language occurs then that Pitcher (Zito) ends up having to thread the pitch. Thread the pitch = HR’s and Grand Slams.

Base coach not allowed to aid/touch runner.
what about the handshake at third on a home run?
play isn’t over until home touched?

a quirk

JD4SF

Bochy is being referred to as “stubborn” and I think in Belt’s situation it has paid off.

* Belt was asked by the hitting coach to made some changes in his AB back in ST
* Belt was noted as being reluctant to make those changes, and this went on for a couple of months.
* Bochy called Belt into his office for some discussion and both announced to the media that Belt would be making a stronger effort to make the AB adjustments.
* Since that Bochy-Belt meeting, Belt’s AB have noticably improved.

It appears Bochy being “stubborn” was advantageous for Belt and for the Giants. 😉

ClutchUp

Quest: The HR trot congrats by base coaches is kosher.

SurfCity

Very Nice

ClutchUp

RBI by Hector. Did his Job. Good situational baseball. Quality at bat.

NuLeaf

JD4SF says:
June 14th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
114..
Bochy is being referred to as “stubborn” and I think in Belt’s situation it has paid off.

* Belt was asked by the hitting coach to made some changes in his AB back in ST
* Belt was noted as being reluctant to make those changes, and this went on for a couple of months.
* Bochy called Belt into his office for some discussion and both announced to the media that Belt would be making a stronger effort to make the AB adjustments.
* Since that Bochy-Belt meeting, Belt’s AB have noticably improved.

It appears Bochy being “stubborn” was advantageous for Belt and for the Giants.

All that and the fact that BAM BAM isn’t here.

Foothills Ryan

ClutchUp says:
June 14th, 2012 at 12:28 pm

IMO, nobody at this level is either Lost it or Got it back, but that’s just me. I have seen too many amatuer and professional players who us fans have annointed one way or another is “he’s back” or “he’s so bad, so ‘turrible’, dfa him, why does Bochy play him, he’s the greatest etc.

Zito an albatross? Zito hasn’t pitched well in his last nine starts? What about Memorial Day against the Snakes? What about his next start against the Cubs where he pitched a shutout into the ninth and the fans booed Bochy for taking him out? That wasn’t even two weeks ago.

Agreed, today and the start against Texas were not very good. But for a fifth starter, he’s been an asset and has had several very good games.

I’m the one who brought up Pill–not to “beat a dead horse” but because I was wondering if he’d come back up if Huff is injured.

Sam

So why was Edelfsen allowed to come on and burn down the infield repeatedly when Loux was here?

JD4SF

Foothills Ryan says:
June 14th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
119..
I’d say Mr. Belt has got something back. Just my opinion, but the results are speaking volumes.
3 in 3 days are you kidding?!?
=======

I don’t see this emergence of Belt’s bat so much as being “back” as being the result of finally making and embracing the changes to his AB. More of a “found” than being “back.” 😉

This is HUGE in Belt’s confidence level. You can see him glowing with his recent success at the plate in every recent interview.

ClutchUp

Please explain to me in non-computer language what happens to you guys/gals when you type your post and then hit submit comment.

Can you tell me what your screen or monitor does after submission. On my end things go haywire with all kinds of lagging and non-loading … “done, but with errors on the page”….

Yeah, good point. I was wondering the same thing at the time. If they were shorthanded in the bullpen, why not bring in a veteran with 15 years of professional experience rather than a rookie in those close games?

Loux has reinvented himself this year from a mediocre starter to a pretty good reliever. He’s in the “Mota spot,” and I’m hoping he’s around all summer. He’s also a pretty good “follow” on Twitter–fun guy and good guy.

SurfCity

What browser do you use Clutch?

peakfreak

Just heard on radio braodcast that Huff hurt his knee jumping over the railing last night and might not be able to DH. Oh darn.

Sam

Clutch what OS are you running. You may have some malware issues.

JD4SF

ClutchUp says:
June 14th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
124..
Please explain to me in non-computer language what happens to you guys/gals when you type your post and then hit submit comment.
======

When the blog does what it is supposed to, after Submit it does a Refresh and reappears with your comments at the bottom of the page.

Try closing all your browser windows then opening the blog site with a fresh browser window. If that doesn’t help, try rebooting your computer.

JD4SF

new thread

Lefty

Anyone else noticing what a slick SS Arias is playing today?

ClutchUp

Foothills Ryan says: June 14th, 2012 at 2:32 pm ClutchUp says:June 14th, 2012 at 12:28 pmIMO, nobody at this level is either Lost it or Got it back, but that’s just me. I have seen too many amatuer and professional players who us fans have annointed one way or another is “he’s back” or “he’s so bad, so ‘turrible’, dfa him, why does Bochy play him, he’s the greatest etc.Dear Clutch,I’d say Mr. Belt has got something back. Just my opinion, but the results are speaking volumes.
3 in 3 days are you kidding?!?Mr. Zito has returned to his body. No more Mr. Malkovich.

@ Footy: Sometimes I think you know what “I” mean or “we” and you still pursue the semantics opportunity. Getting something back is what hitting coaches call “Hay in the Barn” (money in the bank). LONG LONG time ago, ranchers would take advantage of times when they could load hay in their barns before bad weather would render it useless. Ranchers/Farmers could then run up to the huge barn doors, open them and Just inside the doors would be their Hay 🙂

A hitter is NEVER back (from) as it is always a 70% failure sport. Belt is starting to Hit the Ball HARD. One can never even take grounding into a DP as always failure as there are tons of HOF’s in the Hall who have GIDP’s.

Every Giant Swing is filmed for Muelens and the player. It is immediately available down the tunnel in their dugout. Belt can’t be back from somewhere that he never was…. Young, younger type hitters dont always figure it out for four yrs. My 2009-2010-2011-2012 posts in Extra Baggs or Giant Extra’s has never wavered.

Belt @ 6’5 has to find middle ground with his Bat Path / Swing Path / Angle of Stroke in order to accommate major league pitching. They are NOT cookie cutting him, they just want his particular ideosyncrasies to find some BALANCE in becoming a major league hitter. BECOMING a major league hitter is a perpetual task…. He’ll be good in 2012, he’ll play 149 games in 2013 and he will be an MLB/SF Giant solid Lineup component in 2014 and years and years to come.

People cannot seem to grasp THIS. His torso is as LONG as his legs. His grip has been reverting back to form, and then he “self-re-adjusts” again and then back and forth and forth and back.

But a three game series vs the Stros? Even BB9 knows it is NOT as easy as it appears to be. The footage of his swings is already IN the Mariners system. If any hitters timing is distrupted and that hitter gets onto his front foot then those hits are medium deep F7’s – F8’s and F9’s.

Sam

Loux is the new Hensley
Hensley is the new Edelfsen

Milkbone Underwear

to be clear, i didn’t call bochy an idiot or stupid, i called all the other managers in baseball that would have batted panda 4 stupid and idiots.

i don’t think bochy is a terrible manager either…but to put him at the top of the pack, well, to me, that suggests that there are zero great managers in baseball, only average…bochy to me:

i only follow giants close enough to evaluate, but if there are no managers in baseball better than this…then it’s just a sad

South City Jim

That run hurt. I still think they should mix things up a bit and let Buster catch Zito in his next start and have Sanchez catch MadBum. Also, like Channel, I wish Zito would much around with a knuckleball. It doesn’t have to throw it exclusively. Just add it to the repertoire. Throw it five times a game so batters at least know it’s in the mix. When he gets the change up at knees or lower it’s a great pitch, but it gets hit like nobody’s business when it’s up.